Roadside Bomb Targets Diplomatic Convoy in Pakistan's Swat Valley

A roadside bomb struck a convoy of foreign diplomats in Pakistan's Swat valley, killing a police officer and wounding four others. The diplomats, invited by the local chamber of commerce, were unharmed. President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, and security forces have cordoned off the area.

A roadside bomb hit a convoy of foreign diplomats visiting northwest Pakistan on Sunday, killing a police officer in their security detail, local police said.

Swat district police officer Zahidullah Khan reported that the diplomats were in the Swat valley on an invitation from the local chamber of commerce to promote it as a tourist destination.

"The squad leading the convoy was hit by a roadside bomb," Khan stated. Another four police officers were injured. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which has been condemned by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari.

The explosion occurred as the convoy headed to a hill station and ski resort called Malam Jabba, according to police and government officials. All diplomats, numbering nearly a dozen, were safe and later returned to Islamabad. Police confirmed their safety and said they were transported to a secure location before departing.

Deputy Inspector General of police Mohammad Ali Gandapur told Reuters that the ambassadors were unharmed and safely evacuated to Islamabad. The nationalities of the diplomats remain unclear, with no immediate comment from a Pakistani foreign office spokesperson.

Swat valley, a known insurgency hotspot, has seen increased militant activity since late 2022 after the breakdown of a ceasefire with the government. The region gained international attention in 2012 when militants shot Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai.

Following the bombing, soldiers and police sealed off the area and launched a search operation. A senior security official indicated that a curfew has been imposed.

(With inputs from agencies.)